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Board of directors

​Jimi Cook
Co-Founder, Board Chairman
Columbia, MO

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Jimi and Cristi Cook founded Be The Change Volunteers in 2007 during a supposed “one time” school building project in Rwanda (BTCV 001).  The organization has grown beyond their wildest dreams, and more importantly, has held true to its mission of empowering communities through sustainable education-focused development aid.  Jimi’s BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) for BTCV is to complete at least 100 projects during his lifetime. In his “day job”, Jimi serves as the Allen Distinguished Chair in Orthopaedic Surgery and Director of the Thompson Laboratory for Regenerative Orthopaedics and Mizzou BioJoint Center at the University of Missouri.

Cristi Cook
Co-Founder and Secretary/Treasurer
Columbia, MO

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​Cristi is the Co-founder of Be the Change Volunteers.  She and her husband Jimi have served and led teams on education focused development aid projects all over the world.   Cristi volunteers countless hours each year recording and depositing donations for BTCV among many other tasks that keep the organizations lights on every day.  In her “day job,” Cristi serves as an assistant professor for the Thompson Laboratory for Regenerative Orthopaedics and Mizzou BioJoint Center at the University of Missouri and "freelance" veterinary radiologist.

Julie Estes
​​Board Member
St. Louis, MO
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​Julie is a former teacher with years of experience in early childhood education at Central Christian School in the St. Louis are.    Today her favorite job and focus is being a mom to her two children.  She is highly involved at her church and enjoys mentoring young people and participating in a weekly Bible study.  She has served on the BTCV Advisory Council for several years and shares the organizations Big Harry Audacious Goal of 100 projects by supporting, promoting, and spreading the word about Be the Change Volunteers.



Linda Karl
Board Member
Columbia, MO
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Linda is a Compliance Manager for a safety insurance company.  She has served BTCV for many years as a project volunteer, team leader, chapter leader and advisory council member.  She has served with BTCV in India, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Kansas City (USA) and Puerto Rico (USA).  Her area of expertise is workplace safety which is truly needed in developing world construction.  She and her husband Tom have 4 daughters and 8 grandchildren.   She enjoys volunteering at her church, knitting, reading, golfing and hanging out with family and friends.   She is most passionate about hand delivering hope to children through the gift of education! 

Chris Adejo
​Board Member
Columbia, MO
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​Chris was born and raised in Nigeria where he served as one of the countries top legal officials as the Resident State Counsel which is the equivalent of the US Assistant Attorney General.  In that position he argued cases before the Nigerian Supreme court.  Today he lives in Columbia, Missouri and works for the University of Missouri at the Missouri Orthopedic Institute.  Chris has a deep understanding of the difficulties that education providers face in underdeveloped countries.  His perspective is so valuable in guiding our decisions and being diligent with donor funds.   In his free time Chris spends time with his wife and children, serves at his church, and enjoys photography.  Chris is passionate about the way that an education and hard work can change the world. 
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Pam Plouhar
​Board Member
South Bend, IN

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Pam is a recently retired executive from Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices. She has a passion for encouraging and developing youth and has volunteered with a variety of different organizations focused on youth leadership development.   Education is an important part of that development and BTCV offers an opportunity to encourage youth development globally. Pam and her husband Neil, who live in South Bend Indiana have participated in several BTCV builds in Central and South America. In her spare time enjoys outdoor activities including golf, yard work, training dogs and travel.  

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Marc Scott
​Board Member
Kansas City, MO
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​Marc is a banker in Kansas City, MO.  He participated in his first build with his wife, Sadie, on Peru phase 1 in 2014.  Since then, Marc has participated on projects in India, Malawi, Rwanda, Papua New Guinea, Tanzania, Kansas City (USA) and Puerto Rico (USA).  Marc is a past member of the Advisory Council and an active member of the Finance Committee.​ He loves traveling, the outdoors and his English bulldogs.

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Executive Team

Grant Venable
​Director of Change
Phoenix, AZ

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Grant is the Director of Change at Be The Change Volunteers, “DOC”.  He has led teams and served on projects in North America, Asia, Africa, South America and the Pacific Islands.  He runs the day to day operations for BTCV and coordinates all projects.  He is experienced in the business sector, light construction, international project management, and emergency medical rescue.  Grant currently lives in Arizona with his wife and two daughters.  The family loves warm weather, hiking, biking and all things outdoors! 

Debbie Waggoner
Executive Coordinator of Change
Columbia, MO
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Debbie retired from State Farm Insurance in September, 2016 after working there for over 40 years.    She now serves as Senior Intern of Change for BTCV.  Working daily with the co-founders and director, Debbie ensures that every volunteer is taken care of.   She follows her passion of going on builds to help change lives and build relationships with Changers and the people of the communities where BTCV has projects.  Debbie has been on builds in India, Malawi, Peru, Papua New Guinea, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Puerto Rico.  

Thato Mabena
Director of Field Operations, Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa
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Thato is a graduate of Tshwane University of Technology in Pretoria, South Africa.  He is a professional freelance photographer and also serves as BTCV's Director of Field Operations for Africa.  He is an optimistic individual who always has a positive outlook on life with an eagerness to learn. 
He has volunteered on projects in Malawi, Tanzania and Puerto Rico.  In addition he has served on special field assignments for BTCV in Africa.   In his free time he enjoys reading, jogging, traveling and helping others.




Advisory Council

Greg Jones - Legal 
Vice President
Central Trust Company
Columbia, MO

Ted Kettlewell - Engineering
Vice President
OCCI, Inc
​Columbia, MO
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Dusty Hoffman - Security

Captain
Missouri State Highway Patrol
Columbia, MO
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Adam Dube - Education Administration
Head of School 
Columbia Independent School
Columbia, MO

​Norm Chong - Business
Global Business Development Manager
Agilent Technologies
Austin, TX

Scott Daugherty - Construction 
Owner
Fairway Meadows Corporation 
Columbia, MO

Antonio Pozzi - International/Europe 
Professor of Veterinary Surgery
University of Zurich
Zurich, Switzerland

Chris Adejo - International/Africa
Office Support Asst./Patient Coordinator,
Limb Preservation Center, Missouri Orthopaedic Institute,
Columbia, MO


Stefano Pozzi - International/Europe 
Business Advisor
Retired
Genoa, Italy


Joe Reardon - Endowment Strategy
Financial Adviser, CFP
Stifel
Columbia, MO

Diane Lewis - Business
Veterinary Dermatologist 
Institute of Veterinary Specialists
Gainesville, FL


Peter Stiepleman
Superintendent 
Columbia Public Schools
Columbia, MO

Erin Burri - Business
Past Board Member
Real Estate
ReMax 
Columbia, Mo

​Tom Treece - Business

Past Board Member
Retired
Liberty Mutual
Boston, MA

Shari Hamilton - Business
​Past Board Member

Veterinarian
IDEXX
Columbia, MO

Glenn Willett - Business
Past Board Member

Retired
IBM
Columbus, OH

Doug Willett - Business
Past Board Member

Executive Vice President
Commercial Development Company, Inc
Chicago, IL

John Heidrich - Business
Past Board Member

Veterinarian 
Ventena Animal Clinic
Albuquerque, NM

Brian Van Vechten - Business
Past board Member

Veterinarian
VRCC
Denver, CO


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Send us snail mail:
Be The Change Volunteers
503 E Nifong
#230
Columbia, Mo 65201

Our volunteers check our PO BOX monthly so thanks for your patience on replies and tax receipts! 
Be The Change Volunteers is proud to be a
Guide Star Exchange Gold Participant
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    We are a small group run mostly by volunteers so please be PATIENT with our REPLY time. 

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